Premier League club Nottingham Forest accuses refereeing official of supporting rival team after defeat

Following the team’s 2-0 loss to Everton on Sunday, Nottingham Forest made an unusual social media post accusing a Premier League referee of being a supporter of relegation contender Luton Town.

Three times throughout the game, Forest thought that it should have been given penalties: once for a handball and once for each of the fouls committed by Forest players Callum Hudson-Odoi and Giovanni Reyna.

Referee Anthony Taylor, whose choices were supported by video assistant referee (VAR) Stuart Attwell—the official Forest accused of assisting Luton—did not impose any penalties for the three incidents.

The defeat leaves Forest just one point above Luton, who are in 18^th and the final relegation place with four matches of the season remaining.

“Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept,” the club wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “We warned the PGMOL [Professional Game Match Officials Limited] that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him.

“Our patience has been tested multiple times. NFFC will now consider its options.”

CNN has learned that the English Football Association is investigating the post.

“The Premier League was extremely disappointed to read the comments made by Nottingham Forest on social media yesterday, following its match against Everton,” the league said in a statement on Monday.

“We note The FA has confirmed it will be investigating the club’s statement. It is never appropriate to improperly question the integrity of match officials, and the nature of these comments means the Premier League will also be investigating the matter in relation to the League’s Rules.”

CNN has reached out to the PGMOL and Forest offering the opportunity for comment.

Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher agreed that the officials had got the decisions wrong but called Forest’s statement “embarrassing.”